Canola Quick Bytes

A supplement to U.S. Canola Digest

Capitol Hill

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agriculture Coalition in Washington, D.C., is leading a pro-TPP state letter campaign. Agricultural groups, including the U.S. Canola Association (USCA), are urging their state and regional affiliates to sign on to pro-TPP letters to their respective members of Congress. The coalition aims to present these letters prior to the presidential election to encourage the leadership to put TPP on the lame duck session agenda as it may be one of the last chances to consider TPP for a long time.

The USCA also signed on to an Oct. 26 letter from a dozen leading ag groups to AgGateway Chair David Black hailing efforts that led to the new AgGateway ADAPT framework for interoperability in precision ag systems. Citing many benefits to farmers, the ag groups are calling on Farm Management Information System companies to integrate the ADAPT framework into their systems. AgGateway’s ADAPT allows growers to better manage data across different precision agriculture systems regardless of the system manufacturer. It is an open source project, allowing precision ag software providers globally to contribute to its continued development.

Agronomy

A recent study published in the journal Environmental Pollution reported that an industrial nanoparticle may help crops for a change. Known as cerium oxide, the nanoparticle was shown to help canola plants under stress from salty conditions grow closer to normal size. But other studies have found that the same nanoparticle in sunscreen, microelectronics and polishing agents may produce negative effects. “We are talking about something new and still unexplored,” says Lorenzo Rossi, co-author of the study at Texas A&M University.

Bee health stakeholder groups, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, have launched Bee Tech Teamsto support U.S. beekeepers. These teams are made up of trained experts who help reduce pollinator losses by as much as 30 percent. Help the campaign by donating funds and sharing it with others. For more information, please contact Emily Olsen-Harbich at emily@collaborateup.com.

Nutrition

It’s almost Election Day and although there’s been plenty of disagreements between parties, there’s one issue we should all be able to agree on—the need for healthy fats in our diets! Canola oil is the perfect candidate since it’s rich in unsaturated fats, including monounsaturated and omega-3. Need more evidence to vote for it in your pantry? The vitamin K in canola oil promotes healthy bones and tissues, while vitamin E is important for immunity and supports healthy vision. Plus, canola oil is the perfect running mate for salad dressing and is easily swapped out for solid fats in baked goods. This November (and any time of year), it’s a clear winner.

Other Country News

After seven years of negotiations, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was signed on Oct. 30 between the European Union and Government of Canada. The Canola Council of Canada applauds the announcement. “A key element of CETA is the elimination of tariffs on canola oil entering the EU immediately upon implementation, which could increase our exports by up to $90 million per year,” says CCC president Patti Miller. Canadian canola is used for biodiesel production in the EU as part of its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Canola-based biodiesel reduces these emissions by up to 90 percent compared to conventional diesel. CETA also includes a commitment to create a biotechnology working group to address the timeliness of approvals for biotech products and the development of a low level presence policy.

Australia is enjoying one of its largest canola crops in history this year, coupled with strong worldwide demand for edible oil. Combined, it’s the perfect storm for the country’s growers to cash in on the golden crop, which saw prices rise more than 10 percent in October. Most Australian canola is currently exported to Europe, but a market analyst told Stock & Land that there may be chances soon for Australia to do business with China, Indonesia, Vietnam and India.

Latest Industry News

The Northern Canola Growers Association (NCGA) will hold its 10th Annual Canola Research Conference on Nov. 17 at North Dakota State University’s Alumni Center in Fargo, N.D. And on Dec. 6, the NCGA will host its 20th Annual Canola Expo in Langdon, N.D. Keynote speaker Bruce Vincent, a third-generation logger, will speak about a new vision of conservation and environmental stewardship for the agricultural sector.

A lot is happening with Washington State University’s (WSU’s) Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, including a soon-to-be updated website for its Washington Oilseed Cropping Systems, oilseed production and marketing workshops next year, and ongoing soil fertility and winter canola variety trials. The group also recently released winter and spring canola yield data on its website. According to Karen Sowers, WSU extension and outreach specialist for oilseeds, “those who planted winter canola last year were rewarded with record or near-record yields.”

The Minnesota Canola Council will hold its annual winter meeting on Dec. 14 in Roseau, Minn. “Go for the Gold, Add Canola to Your Team: Reduce Risk in a Competitive Environment” will feature presentations on new, canola-related products and services as well as educational sessions with updates on canola-based research projects and a review of crop insurance coverage options. The event—free to producers, university personnel and sponsors—also includes a presentation from Frayne Olson, Ph.D., crops economist and marketing specialist at North Dakota State University, who will discuss the market outlook for canola and oilseeds.

About the USCA

“Based on the number of phone calls and emails I received this summer, I fully expect winter canola acres to rebound substantially for the 2017 crop year,” says Mike Stamm, canola breeder at Kansas State University in the latest USCA blog. Stamm’s commentary is specifically directed at Kansas, where he says many producers decided to plant winter canola as a result of the low price of wheat. He even believes Kansas could soon become one of the top canola-producing states. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service October 2016 Crop Production report put the Kansas canola crop at 37 bushels per acre, with average yields from three trial sites ranging from 36 to 67 bushels per acre.
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